Quito, Ecuador

Quito is a slightly odd city to describe. For starters, it's in a fine location - in the middle of the country, more or less, and located in a beautiful valley at 8,000 or so feet of altitude. (In other words, don't go for a long run upon arrival if you are coming from sea level.)

This is the center of economic, political and cultural activity in Ecuador. Our guide estimated the population of the city at 4 million or so, although it's difficult to tell at a given moment. Ecuador has a big problem with illegal immigration, particularly concerning Venezuela. Perhaps a few hundred thousand have made the move south to Quito. The United States isn't the only nation with problems caused by the instability in Venezuela.

There are some good-sized new buildings around the town, but for the most part they aren't located too close to each other. The structures are surrounded by buildings that haven't been particularly well maintained over the years, although I can't say I saw a lot of obvious poverty while traveling there. On many of the streets, the first floor is filled by a business and the two floors above are apartments of some sort. I got the sense that the area was crowded, but not too jammed. But the city does cover a lot of territory, and more high-rise buildings are said to be a priority of the government.

At times this part of the world feels rather European in its compositionp. Quito has a nice Old Town that qualified for UNESCO status and is swarming with tourists most of the time, and a couple of churches are major attractions for those visitors. A new subway opened fairly recently, although with only one line I would guess that it hasn't made a major impact yet.

And an obvious selling point for the place is the climate. Thanks to its location on the equator, it's always around 70 degrees for a high - January through December. The nights can get a little chilly, but not horrible. The growing season for certain plants and crops lasts 365 days, which makes things easier I guess. The only variant is that summers are quite dry compared to the rest of the year.

All of this is true, but it doesn't really cover the concept that's on the mind of potential visitors these days. That boils down to ... is it safe? Ecuador was having all sorts of troubles keeping the peace in 2024, thanks to gangs in the major cities. The city of Guayaquil has been mentioned in such discussions.

During our five days in Quito, I can't say I felt unsafe. I was warned not to take an unexpected stroll after dark (which is always a little after 6 p.m. there). Also, tourists are told not to have their cell phones in their hands in public, which might invite a "grab-and-go" robbery. So be aware of your surroundings, and take a taxi if you feel the need to eat dinner away from the hotel, and you should be fine.  

This video covers the city well: